The central thesis of this book is that the semantic conception is a logical methodologically and heuristically richer and more accurate account of scientific theorizing, and in particular of theorizing in evolutionary biology, than the more widely adhered to syntactic conception. In this book, the author outlines both the conceptions indicating the significant problems with the syntactic conception; explains and criticizes two influential syntactic-conception accounts of the structure of evolutionary theorizing. Thompson also argues that the semantic conception provides a richer and more accurate understanding than the syntactic conception of sociobiological explanation, of the testability of sociobiology, and of the role of culture and cognition in evolutionary explanations of human behavior.

Paul Thompson is a playwright and director born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in 1940. From 1971 to 1982, he served as artistic director of Theatre Passe Muraille (with which he is still associated). He has participated in several celebrated productions including Doukhobors (1971), The Farm Show (1972), 1837: The Farmers' Revolt (1973), Les Maudits Anglais (1978), Maggie and Pierre (1979) as well as directing at Centaur Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Blyth Festival and Native Earth Performing Arts among many others.

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"This is a first-class piece of work. The philosophy of biology generally is a subject that has leapt ahead in recent years, and Thompson is one of the best of the young practitioners. The topic with which he deals is timely and his approach is controversial and exciting. He makes his case skillfully and with much knowledge." — Michael Ruse, editor of Biology and Philosophy

"The central message of the book is that general philosophical misconceptions about the nature of theories have resulted in severe misrepresentations of evolutionary theory. This is an important and timely contribution to the literature of the philosophy of science." — John Beatty, University of Minnesota